These World Championships, the first since 2015, will be where new stars will emerge on the rhythmic gymnastics scene following the retirement of numerous top gymnasts after the Rio Olympic Games. Two gymnasts per country are invited to the Individual competition — for Whelan and Uchida, this will be their second appearance at a World Championships having made their debut at the 2015 World Championships.
In the group competition, 2015 World Championships veteran Vanessa Panov of Toronto will bring her experience to the floor with the rest of group, composed of Elizabet Belittchenko, Renna Cukier, Cleo Page, Anastasia Shanko, and Alexandra Udachina as they look to qualify a quota spot for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo (the NOCs ranked 1st to 3rd from the group all-around will qualify a quota spot for Tokyo). The 2019 World Championships and 2020 World Cup series for individual and Continental Championships will decide the final qualifications to Tokyo.
“Our team has competed in several World Cups this year achieving certain goals and personal bests in preparation for Pesaro,” said Teresa Orr, national team director for rhythmic gymnastics at Gymnastics Canada. “For our final preparations we need to push for performance consistency and building on the confidence and positivity that has been developing with the team in the last few months. With the numerous hours of individual/group training and competitions, it all comes down to performance on demand.
What: 35th FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
Where: Pesaro, Italy
When: August 30 – September 4, 2017
Website: http://rgwch2017.com
Results: https://live.fig-gymnastics.com/schedule.php?idevent=14844
Social: #2017RhythmicWorlds
THE TEAM:
Individual Athletes
- Carmen Whelan, Aurora, ON – Silhouettes of York
- Katherine Uchida, Toronto, ON – Jusco RG
Group Athletes
- Elizabet Belittchenko, Toronto, ON – Salut RG
- Renna Cukier, Kitchener, ON – RGC Expressia
- Cleo Page, Ottawa, ON – ORGC
- Vanessa Panov, Toronto, ON – Finesse RG
- Anastasia Shanko, Toronto, ON – Trillium RG
- Alexandra Udachina, Toronto, ON – Trillium RG
COMPETITION SCHEDULE:
- Aug 30: Individual Qualifications – Hoop & Ball; Finals – Hoop & Ball
- Aug 31: Individual Qualifications – Clubs & Ribbon; Finals – Clubs & Ribbon
- Sept 1: Individual All-Around Final (24 athletes)
- Sept 2: Group Qualifications – 5Hoops & 3 balls/2ropes; All-Around Competition
- Sept 3: Group Finals – 5 Hoops & 3 Balls/2 Ropes
ABOUT GYMNASTICS CANADA
First established in 1969, Gymnastics Canada is the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in Canada. Gymnastics Canada works closely with the twelve Provincial Federations and the 700 local clubs to provide a broad range of programs and services to meet the needs of all participants. From athlete development, to coaching and judging education, Gymnastics Canada sets the operating standards and practices for the sport in Canada. Our mandate is to promote and provide positive and diverse gymnastics experience through the delivery of quality and safe gymnastics programming. Visit www.gymcan.org for more information, or follow us @CDNgymnastics
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For more information, contact:
Julie Forget
Director, Communications and Marketing
Gymnastics Canada
Phone: 613.748.5637 Ext. 233
Cell: 819.210.2064
Email: jforget@gymcan.org